Rotary Recess Printing

This article is based on a study entitled "Taille-Douce rotative"
by P. de Lizeray, which appeared in the May 1980 issue of "L'Echo de
la Timbrologie"; it deals with the marginal markings of recess printed
stamps produced by the French Government Printing Works on rotary presses.

As the stamps issued by the French Post Office in Andorra are produced
in these works, and some are specifically referred to in the article,
it is hoped it will be of interest to our members.

On the sheets of rotary recess printed stamps one may find, depending
on the period of printing and the type of press; six marks or numbers
printed on the sheet margins:

Printing reference number

Printing date

Press number, with operator's identity reference

A special mark for each of the three sheets of stamps produced at
each revolution of the printing cylinder

An electronic mark

Engine-turned pattern.

The printing reference number has always existed since the beginning
of the use of the rotary recess machines.

The printing date has also existed from the start, except that,
after a time, it was not used for charity or commemorative issues.

The four other numbers or marks quoted above have undergone many
variations over the years and the purpose of this article is to give
precise chronological details of these changes.

1st period 1929-33

The first printing on rotary recess machines was made on 22.3.29,
the stamp being the 10f La Rochelle (all stamps referred to are issues
of France unless otherwise stated). The sheets only bore two identifying
marks, the printing reference number and the printing date. All the
stamps were printed on "three colour machines" (machines which are able
to produce stamps with up to three different colours, by a process of
depositing different coloured inks on different parts of the printing
plate).

2nd period 1933-64

A new reference number was added to the sheet markings, taking the
form of "I C 2"; the letter "I" was always used, possible standing for
"indicatif"; "C" referred to the press operator,
and "2" the number of"
the press. This reference number was printed in large fat figures and
the first sheets of stamps to bear it were those for Andorra printed on
29.4.33, and for France of 20.6.33 (2f Arc de Triomphe). The reference
number is known to have been used until 8.1.64.

3rd period 1941

No additional sheet markings but omission of printing dates for
charity and commemorative issues. Last known date 17.7.41 for the 1f
plus 1f France d'Outremer. This system remains unchanged to date.

4th period 1945

No changes except the appearance of additional distinguishing marks
for each of the three sheets produced by one cylinder revolution .....
1, 2 or 3 dots ( ). The first
sheets of stamps so marked were the
6f Andorre la Vieille of Andorra (19.7.45) and the 10f Marianne de Gandon
of France (13.2.46). The system of dots continued in use until 1948.

5th period February 1948

The dot markings were replaced by a system of lines; 2 lines for
sheet 1 ( || ), 1 line for sheet 2 ( | ), and no lines for sheet three ( ).
This system was first seen on the 200f Airmail of France printed on
10.2.48, and continues to this day.

6th period December 1948

Markings unchanged but additional fancy "engine-turned pattern"
printed on the previously blank stamp sized labels which appeared at the
top and bottom, or sides, of the sheet according to the stamp format.
This pattern was introduced to prevent stamps being forged on these
blank, gummed, perforated stamp sized pieces of paper. The press number,
and the operators identity reference is printed on top of one of these
patterns, the sheet marking line(s) appearing alongside one of the patterns.

7th period 1960.

Markings unchanged. Introduction of new six colour machines;
these presses bear reference numbers which follow on from the numbers
of the three colour machines. From the time of their introduction an
electronic mark was incorporated on one of each three sheets, and remains
so today. The first stamps printed on these machines were the set of
French bird stamps, without printing dates (coins-datés), of November 1960.
The first dated stamp was the French "Marianne de Cocteau" (7.2.61).

8th Period January 1964

Press number now in thin characters taking the form of "I D 4",
"I" = indicatif: "D" = 4th letter of alphabet, therefore 4th press:
and also "4" = 4th press. No longer any indication of operators identity.
This new system started on 9.1.64 (1f Le Touquet) and only lasted until
July 1964.

9th period July 1964

Press number now indicates type of press.

e.g.

TD 3 4 =

Taille-Douce

3

colours

press

4

TD 6 2 =

"

6

"

"

2

This system started on 1.7.64 for both types of machine, and
continues today.

10th period 1975

Appearance of new mark "RGR" - "Presse rotative à grand rendement" =
High output rotary press. First seen on 25.7.75 for the 80c red
Marianne de Bequet definitive issue of France. This system in current use.

Present state of affairs

As you will see the present position is that all sheets have the
following marks:-

Printing reference number

Printing date (except for charity and commemorative issues)

Press reference number, either TD 3, TD 6 or RGR

A mark for each of the three sheets produced by the revolution of
the printing cylinder (except for sheet three, which has no mark)

An electronic mark, on one sheet in three produced on the six colour
machines

Engine-turned pattern on the otherwise blank labels for stamps printed
on the three coloured machines. Also seen on six colour printed
stamps where blank labels would otherwise occur and, for the same
reason, on sheets of stamps printed by photogravure.

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Editors note:4th period. The dots are
positioned in the left margin
opposite the 1st stamp of the last row i.e. just above the coin-daté
marking. The dots are usually in the colour of the issued stamps but
there are exceptions. The 6f Andorre la Vieille was re-issued on 26.7.48
in a different colour (purple brown) with coin-daté 8.7.48. Although
this stamp was issued during the 5th period it obviously was printed from
the same plates used for the original 6f rose, but it is interesting to
note that the dots are albino and not in the colour of the stamp.
Another stamp with albino dot markings is the 25f blue Bonell (changed
from 25f rose). The 20f violet Bonell has albino markings but the original
20f blue has no markings whatsoever in this position and, similarly, the
re-print of the 50f Bonell value with coin-daté 13.4.45 has coloured dots
whereas the two earlier printings (6.6.44 and 26.12.44) had no markings
at all. Also, some Andorran commemoratives still have coins-datés.